Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s no question that there is an important role for regional boards to play in ensuring that local culture and language are reflected in program delivery and that also the concerns of the communities are heard. We do need to find a solution to this problem.

The boards were originally put in place when the responsibility for Health and Social Services devolved down to the GNWT. At that time, we heard clearly the communities and the people want to be heard. As we know, as I have heard from both Member Menicoche and Blake, it’s not working exactly right and there are...

One hundred thousand dollars of existing territorial services program budget for 2013 has been reallocated to cover the expenses associated with the initial planning and this pilot study. Once again, we’re going to run a pilot project in the Deh Cho and when we figure out what aspects of it work, how to make a program that works across the Territories, we’ll certainly work with committee to find a way to roll that out in the rest of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, I will move that Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Medical Care Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This initiative that was identified in the paper today is actually an action item that was identified in the Shared Path Towards Wellness, A Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan 2012-2015, which has both been tabled in this House but also brought forward for discussion with committee. I will check Hansard over the last couple of sessions, but I’m pretty sure the Minister of Health also mentioned it in this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has one of the most generous benefit packages available for all employees in the Northwest Territories. We provide significant amounts of sick leave, annual leave and special leave which may be used for a variety of different reasons. These benefits of employment that we do have are negotiated with our unions. We would obviously have to have a discussion with Health and Social Services, who in turn would have to have a discussion with their unions. The bottom line is we will certainly raise that with HR, but they will have to have that discussion with the union if that is...

Mr. Speaker, we’re always looking to fill the established positions that we have. We will continue to go out and actively recruit physicians and physician specialists to fill the positions that exist within the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, if it’s a management board we go with, that would make perfect sense. If it’s an advisory board that we go with, it may not make as much sense, but regardless, we will work with the members of the boards that exist and the future boards to make sure that they have the training so they can adequately provide informed direction and decisions within their particular mandates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my last response, we need to make some changes to this system. It’s not working. We want to make sure we are getting the input from the people and from the communities and regions. We also know, as the Member has clearly outlined in his Member’s statement, that there are some real challenges. We want to focus on the care of our residents, the individuals. We want to focus on the person. So we do need to do some work. We need to finish that work before we move forward with re-establishing the authority in whichever capacity we move forward in, whether it’s a board...

Thank you. This government, this department will live up to the commitments made by the current Ministers and the previous Ministers. Thank you.

Thank you. I’ve already said I’ll get that information for the Member and I will. I will provide it to the Member and committee in due course. Thank you.